ManitobaSteinbach council has extended a private security contract after a pilot project yielded results for housing developments that suffered high levels of theft and vandalism.Private security works in tandem with RCMP as police focus on major crimesChristopher Gareau · CBC News · Posted: Nov 18, 2025 6:00 AM EST | Last Updated: 4 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 4 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.Steinbach Security Services owner Brian Brunelle with a mobile security vehicle. (Chris Gareau/CBC)Private security is working in tandem with Steinbach RCMP to stop theft and vandalism at housing developments under construction in the fast-growing city.Developers were the ones who asked city council to find a solution.“They brought their concerns forward and how they were being broken into and constantly being thieved and ransacked,” explained Mayor Earl Funk at the last council meeting of the southeastern Manitoba city.Steinbach Security Services was previously hired at $360 per night after property crime increased and the number of police officers remained unchanged.Steinbach council voted to extend the private security pilot project to the end of the year, and will explore the option of extending the contract. If it is approved, the private security company would continue patrolling Steinbach streets at a cost of $145,000 — less than the city pays for one RCMP officer.“For the investment, I think what we’re getting is amazing,” said Funk.Thieves and vandals hit developersLocal developer Waldo Neustaedter said he was on the verge of losing insurance coverage for the houses and apartments he is building on the southwest area of the city. “And if you can’t get insurance, you don’t get a mortgage. You can’t build the apartment for your client,” said Neustaedter.He said thieves were ripping out $15 of copper wiring and causing tens of thousands of dollars of damage multiple times a week near the newly-opened Parkhill School. Since private security was hired on July 2, incidents have dropped to near zero.“It’s night-and-day difference,” said Neustaedter.Housing under construction in southwest Steinbach. (Chris Gareau/CBC)Steinbach Security Services owner Brian Brunelle said his mobile units have stopped over 20 thefts at construction sites. Residential neighbourhoods are also patrolled. Brunelle said his staff even helped find a lost dog.But city council made it clear to him they want his company to focus on housing developments that do not have eyes on the street.“I’m sure you’re hearing about arsons in Winnipeg. Well, we’re doing our best to keep that from happening here,” said Brunelle, a former police chief who worked in Ste Anne, Man., 15 kilometres north of Steinbach, before founding his company in 2006.He said many of his security guards are former police, conservation and sheriff officers who are mandated to take 40 hours of training and provide background checks. They can make arrests, but they prefer to “deter, detect and report.”Working with policeCamera footage of any caught thieves or vandals is turned over to Steinbach RCMP, who Brunelle said he has a strong working relationship with.When the Steinbach RCMP detachment is fully staffed, they have 18 officers — the same number of staff as Steinbach Security Services.But officers on medical or parental leave means there has not been a full complement on duty in the last 14 years, according to the city.Sgt. Joanne Ryll is acting commander while Steinbach waits for a new staff sergeant to be appointed. She said she has been appreciative of the help from private security.“It is a deterrent because whoever it is that may have the idea to go and steal, will not know when these vehicles are going to show up or not,” said Ryll.Cases in Steinbach provincial court have included impaired drivers called in to RCMP by Steinbach Security Services. Brunelle said he has also sent guards to help secure violent crime scenes while police investigate.“We do as much as we can in order to free them up so that they can actually go do the things that they need to do,” said Brunelle.Copper wiring is a target for thieves in new Steinbach housing developments under construction. (Chris Gareau/CBC)Short-term solution to long-term problemCity council hopes to put the money intended for its $14.8-million RCMP budget towards officers, but for now private security is the short-term solution.Neustaedter said it is a good answer until longer-term solutions for the rising issues of drug addiction and homelessness — and those who take advantage of vulnerable people — can be found.“The sooner they can get help, the sooner we’ve been helped,” said Neustaedter.If Steinbach Security Services is hired in 2026, the contract will be reviewed annually for renewal, according to city manager Troy Warkentin.ABOUT THE AUTHORChristopher Gareau is a CBC Manitoba reporter based in Steinbach who covers the province’s southeastern region. He has previously covered southeastern Manitoba in print, and worked in radio and print in northwestern B.C. and southwestern Ontario. You can reach him at christopher.gareau@cbc.ca.
Steinbach hires private security to patrol city, reduce theft at construction sites
